NIGER: MNJ LEADERSHIP CONTRADICTS GON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000815 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W HEFLIN OR DENNISON PARIS FOR AF WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2018 TAGS: PGOV MOPS PREL CASC NG LY ML SUBJECT: NIGER: MNJ LEADERSHIP CONTRADICTS GON SPOKESPERSON'S CLAIMS THAT REBELS WILL LAY DOWN ARMS TO BEGIN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS REF: NIAMEY 800 NIAMEY 00000815 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Bernadette M. Allen, Reasons: 1.4. b/d ¶1. (C) Summary. Following August 18 media reports that Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ) leader Aghali Alambo had agreed to Libyan leader Mouamar Khaddafi's call for rebels to lay down their arms to faciliate planning for peace talks, the MNJ leadership alleged that Government of Niger (GON) Spokesperson Ben Omar had made false claims. GON public television continued to air footage of government leaders (including the opposition members) and civil society welcoming the "good news" with hope that rebels and the GON authorities would soon negotiate a peace agreement. Other anti-GON rebel groups have had mixed reaction to the reports, with Forces Armees Revolutionaires du Sahara (FARS) leadership announcing that its rebels would lay down arms, but Front des Forces du Redressment (FFR) leadership calling the intent to disarm a "high act of treason." The GON extended the "State of Alert" in northern Niger for three additional months, effective August 24 (the date it would have ended). Ambassador's (accompanied by FSN Political Assistant) August 20 meeting with the GON High Commission for the Restoration of Peace (HCRP) Secretary General (SG) and the Advisor to the High Commissioner claimed to know no more than what was reported in the local media and stated that the Commission would be ready to engage in the peace process when given instructions by the GON leadership to do so. End summary. ¶2. (C) At an August 20 meeting with Ambassador, HCRP SG Sani Gonda and Advisor to the Commissioner Oumarou Chipkaou reported that High Commissioner for the Restoration of Peace Mohamed Anacko was out of town and both men claimed to know no more than what had been reported in local media. The SG added that the Commission would be ready to engage in any peace negotiations as instructed by the GON leadership. SG apologized to the Ambassador for not being able to meet with her on August 19, stating that he had to take care of a "special project", one related to his work as the Coordinator of the Cross-Border Transhumance Management Project between Niger and Mali. (Note: The project is aimed at conflict prevention between herders and farmers along both nations' common border. End note.) When asked whether Anacko had gone to the north or to Libya to participate in the reported meetings or to meet with MNJ officials, the SG said Anacko had left the country for family visitation in Mali, that he was expected back in Niger on the weekend (Aug 23-24). In response to a question about the HCRP's views regarding the announcement that the MNJ would lay down arms, Gonda said the Commission members had seen the announcement on television, that "Alambo has made a historical decision, but the Commission was not certain what to expect, though it believes there may be some sort of negotiation soon." He said the Commission is waiting on instructions from higher authorities. When asked to comment on the MNJ's recent denial that it had agreed to lay down arms, Gonda replied that the HRCP can only rely on the GON's official statement. He added that the HCRP had been preparing to meet with the MNJ at the time of the meeting in Ubari, Libya, but awaited the GON leadership's instruction to take action. Further, he stated that some people within the MNJ are against peace because it would mean an end to profitable trafficking activities. He said he believed Alambo is in favor of peace, that the news from the Ubari meeting was welcome and all now remains in Khadaffi's hands. ¶3. (C) Ambassador informed Gonda that she wanted to meet with Anacko upon his return to Niamey. She asked Gonda to inform Anacko that the USG was still working on funding to support the conflict resolution training that Anacko had raised with Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Todd Moss, that the prospects for funding looked good. She added that we were hopeful that the U.S. Institute of Peace, one of the institutions Moss had suggested may have interest in conducting the training, will be able to do so. Gonda responded that the HCRP had been seeking a training opportunity for a long time, that such an initiative would be highly relevant for an institution like the HCRP. ¶4. (U) A check of the various MNJ-related websites revealed new postings related to the reports that MNJ would lay down its arms. On the MNJ website: http://m-n-j.blogspot.com there is a strong denial that Alambo had agreed to lay down arms, as well as one of the longest postings of its demands NIAMEY 00000815 002.2 OF 002 to date. On the FFR website: http://redressement.unblog.fr appears the first posting since July 25, 2008, a statement from Rhissa Ag Boula denouncing Alambo's reported announcement to disarm and labeling the announcement as treacherous, personal and arbitrary. Further it states that if Alambo wants to disarm for personal reasons that he should not undermine the efforts of fighters and martyrs who have given their lives for the movement. He added that it is "only the beginning" of the struggle against the Tandja government. Finally, FARS leader Bocar Mohamed Sougouma in an interview with Radio France International stated that his movement had decided to lay down arms to "return home", information later confirmed in GON Spokesperson Ben Omar's interview. ¶5. (U) Late evening August 20, a correspondent for Tele-Sahel (public television station) announced that the State of Alert, due to sunset on August 24, had been extended an additional three months (which will keep it in effect through late November). The announcement about the extension also appeared in local newspapers the next day. Minimize considered. ALLEN